Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults

IntroductionTraditional approaches to supporting older adults in adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle have largely failed. The previously proposed “Staircase Approach” offers a new foundation for developing interventions and public health strategies; this approach includ...

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Main Authors: Konstantina Katsoulis, Maria C. Tan, Sean Horton, Samir K. Sinha, Bill Kapralos, David Dunstan, Danielle R. Bouchard, Jennifer L. Copeland, Shilpa Dogra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Health Agency of Canada 2025-02-01
Series:Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
Online Access:https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/using-staircase-approach-increase-movement-inform-novel-sedentary-behaviour-intervention-older-adults.html
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author Konstantina Katsoulis
Maria C. Tan
Sean Horton
Samir K. Sinha
Bill Kapralos
David Dunstan
Danielle R. Bouchard
Jennifer L. Copeland
Shilpa Dogra
author_facet Konstantina Katsoulis
Maria C. Tan
Sean Horton
Samir K. Sinha
Bill Kapralos
David Dunstan
Danielle R. Bouchard
Jennifer L. Copeland
Shilpa Dogra
author_sort Konstantina Katsoulis
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionTraditional approaches to supporting older adults in adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle have largely failed. The previously proposed “Staircase Approach” offers a new foundation for developing interventions and public health strategies; this approach includes Step 1 (changing sedentary behaviour) and Steps 2 to 4 (incorporating more physical activity of increasing levels of intensity). In this systematic search and review, we aimed to inform the co-creation of a novel Staircase Approach intervention for community-dwelling, inactive older adults, primarily focussed on Step 1. MethodsA systematic search was performed across six databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, SPORTDiscus and Scopus). ResultsAfter duplicates were removed, 3427 titles and abstracts were screened. Fourteen articles (including 17 intervention groups) were included after full-text review. Five were randomized controlled trials, three compared two interventions and six were single-arm studies. Sample sizes ranged from 9 to 176 participants, and included 617 older adults at baseline. Mean age of samples ranged from 64.3 (standard deviation [SD] 3.8) to 85.1 (SD 6.2) years, while the intervention length ranged from less than one day to 6 months. Sedentary time interventions are well accepted; most studies had completion rates above 80%. Based on findings from within-group comparisons, half of the studies showed a reduction in sedentary time (6/12 groups) and half showed an increase in physical activity (6/12 groups). Based on findings from between-group comparisons, 2 out of 5 intervention groups showed improvements in sitting time and physical activity outcomes compared to controls. Satisfaction and adherence to interventions were generally high. ConclusionSedentary time interventions for older adults show promise and point to several components that may be included in an intervention focussed on Step 1 of the Staircase Approach.
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spelling doaj-art-8c13d386e6d44355a60e4d599f84dc8f2025-08-20T02:48:05ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2025-02-01452637510.24095/hpcdp.45.2.01Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adultsKonstantina Katsoulis0Maria C. Tan1Sean Horton2Samir K. Sinha3Bill Kapralos4David Dunstan5Danielle R. Bouchard6Jennifer L. Copeland7Shilpa Dogra8Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaOntario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, CanadaDivision of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaOntario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, CanadaInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaCardiometabolic, Exercise & Lifestyle Laboratory, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, CanadaUniversity of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, CanadaOntario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada IntroductionTraditional approaches to supporting older adults in adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle have largely failed. The previously proposed “Staircase Approach” offers a new foundation for developing interventions and public health strategies; this approach includes Step 1 (changing sedentary behaviour) and Steps 2 to 4 (incorporating more physical activity of increasing levels of intensity). In this systematic search and review, we aimed to inform the co-creation of a novel Staircase Approach intervention for community-dwelling, inactive older adults, primarily focussed on Step 1. MethodsA systematic search was performed across six databases (MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, SPORTDiscus and Scopus). ResultsAfter duplicates were removed, 3427 titles and abstracts were screened. Fourteen articles (including 17 intervention groups) were included after full-text review. Five were randomized controlled trials, three compared two interventions and six were single-arm studies. Sample sizes ranged from 9 to 176 participants, and included 617 older adults at baseline. Mean age of samples ranged from 64.3 (standard deviation [SD] 3.8) to 85.1 (SD 6.2) years, while the intervention length ranged from less than one day to 6 months. Sedentary time interventions are well accepted; most studies had completion rates above 80%. Based on findings from within-group comparisons, half of the studies showed a reduction in sedentary time (6/12 groups) and half showed an increase in physical activity (6/12 groups). Based on findings from between-group comparisons, 2 out of 5 intervention groups showed improvements in sitting time and physical activity outcomes compared to controls. Satisfaction and adherence to interventions were generally high. ConclusionSedentary time interventions for older adults show promise and point to several components that may be included in an intervention focussed on Step 1 of the Staircase Approach.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/using-staircase-approach-increase-movement-inform-novel-sedentary-behaviour-intervention-older-adults.html
spellingShingle Konstantina Katsoulis
Maria C. Tan
Sean Horton
Samir K. Sinha
Bill Kapralos
David Dunstan
Danielle R. Bouchard
Jennifer L. Copeland
Shilpa Dogra
Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada
title Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
title_full Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
title_fullStr Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
title_full_unstemmed Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
title_short Using the Staircase Approach to increase movement: a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
title_sort using the staircase approach to increase movement a systematic search and review to inform a novel sedentary behaviour intervention for older adults
url https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-45-no-2-2025/using-staircase-approach-increase-movement-inform-novel-sedentary-behaviour-intervention-older-adults.html
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